Delta Plus Can Be More Virulent, COVID Cases Not Falling Below 8k A Concern: Tope
Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded over 10,000 Covid-19 cases after a gap of a week, taking the tally to 59,97,587
Mumbai: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that the study of the Delta plus coronavirus variant has indicated that it could be more virulent compared to the previous mutants.
The minister’s remarks came as Maharashtra recorded 21 cases of Delta Plus variant. Tope said a separate hospital ward is formed for such patients.
He added that it was a matter of concern for the state that the number of daily COVID-19 cases was not dropping below 8,000.
“These are index cases of the Delta Plus variant and the severity could be higher. This type of study has indicated that it may be more virulent than the previous mutants,” Tope said on Wednesday. He said 100 samples have been taken from 36 districts of Maharashtra and sent for genome sequencing.
The minister also expressed concern over the number of daily cases not falling below 8,000.
“This is a matter of concern for the state as the number of fresh (daily) Covid-19 cases is not falling below 8,000. In the last 7 to 8 days, the state is adding around 7,000 to 8,000 new Covid-19 cases per day, but the numbers are not decreasing,” Tope said.
Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded over 10,000 Covid-19 cases after a gap of a week, taking the tally to 59,97,587, according to the state health department’s bulletin.
A mutation in the delta or b.1.617.2 variant gave rise to the new delta plus variant, which was first identified in India and was one of the drivers of the lethal second wave. Although there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, Delta Plus is resistant to the recently authorized monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 in India.
Some cases of the Delta Plus variant of coronavirus have also been found in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. The Centre has already declared the Delta Plus variant as a ‘variant of concern’.
So far, 40 samples across the country have been found infected with the Delta Plus variant.
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